CHCI/NHA Series: Humanities Centers and Advocacy

The National Humanities Alliance and the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI) are pleased to announce a three-part series this spring semester for NHA and CHCI members exploring different ways humanities centers can advocate for the humanities. See below for the program descriptions. Registration for the first two sessions is now open. Registration for the final session (and additional details) are coming soon.

Session 1: Making the Case to Policymakers

January 31, 2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern

How can humanities center directors and staff advocate for federal funding for the humanities? This Zoom gathering will introduce participants to various ways to connect with campus-based government relations officers to bolster their advocacy for the humanities; engage with Members of Congress and their staff in-district; and advocate on Capitol Hill–as we gear up for Humanities Advocacy Day in March. We will also explore how the skills developed through federal advocacy might be leveraged for advocacy on campuses and in local communities. This session is ideal for humanities center directors and staff who are curious about participating in Humanities Advocacy Day or are unable to participate and interested in identifying other ways to advocate.

Panelists:

Susan Derwin, Director, Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, UC Santa Barbara

Leanne Hotek, Director of Federal Relations, University of Iowa

Kimberly Marshall, Faculty Director, Oklahoma University Arts & Humanities Forum

Aaron Mclendon, Assistant Director, Office of Government Affairs, Princeton University

This session has already taken place, please veiw the recording here.

Session 2: Making the Case to Students

February 28, 1:00 – 2:00 pm Eastern

Join us for an exploration of how humanities centers can help engage undergraduate students in the humanities–helping to address the national trends of declining enrollments and majors in the humanities. Learn about successful undergraduate initiatives from centers at a range of institutions and connect with other humanities center leadership and staff around their challenges, priorities, and best practices. Scott Muir, director of undergraudate initiatives at the National Humanities Alliance, will moderate.

Panelists:

Kerill O’Neill, Special Assistant to the Provost for Humanities Initiatives, Colby College

Matthew C. Jordan, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Dean and Chair for the Humanities, Cuyahoga Community College

Melynda Price, William L. Matthews, Jr. Professor of Law, John and Joan Gaines Professor of Humanities, and Director of the Gaines Center for the Humanities, University of Kentucky

This session has already taken place, please view the recording here.

Session 3: Making the Case to Upper Administrators

April 27, 4:00 – 5:00 pm Eastern

This last session will convene panelists who are in administrative leadership positions today, but who have previously advocated for the humanities as faculty, scholars, or center directors at different kinds of universities and colleges. The panelists will discuss their experience of humanities advocacy from both ends, share ideas, and answer questions about best practices and strategies to make the case for the humanities to upper administrators.

Panelists:

Sara Guyer, Dean of Arts & Humanities, UC Berkeley

Diane Harris, Dean of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington

Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges and Universities

Please click here to view the recording.